Ledecky won the same three events here in Rio.
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Ledecky set a world record by winning the women’s 800-meter freestyle by an astounding 11.38 seconds.
The scoreboard replays the United States’ Katie Ledecky celebrating after she won gold in the women’s 800-meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics, during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and.
Jazz Carlin claims her second Olympic silver medal in the 800m freestyle final.
“I hit all my goals right on the nose this week”, said Ledecky, adding that her goal in the 800 free was “8:05 or better”.
I don’t want to speak too soon, but I think Katie Ledecky might be here to stay.
Phelps still has a chance to leave Rio with 23 golds in his career. Earlier today, Ledecky confessed to having a bit of a sore throat from cheering for Manuel.
Ledecky said Meyer had sent her a video message of support via her mother before the race.
Maya Moore scored 12 points for the US, who clinched the top seed in group B with an 81-51 win over Canada.
In a stunner in the 100-meter butterfly, Michael Phelps fell to Joseph Schooling of Singapore.
The 19-year-old finished with a time of 8:04.79, beating her own world record – set earlier this year in the Arena Pro Swim Series – by nearly two seconds. The next time the teenager, already a competitive swimmer, got in the pool, she cut through the water repeating to herself, “I am Debbie Meyer”. She seems to operate on a tempo that other swimmers can’t fathom.
“That’s pretty insane, what happens in eight years”, said Schooling, who attends the University of Texas. Often, her feet barely seem to kick; instead, they twitch in short bursts – and sometimes they’re perfectly still.
Ledecky’s Rio medal total stands at five, with those four golds (200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay) plus a silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay, where she swam the anchor leg.
The 21-year-old Londoner said: “I’ve seen so many people come fourth, it looks like such a hard position to come in but as soon as I touched my hand on that wall, it was over, there was nothing I could do about it, so I’m just going to accept the result and enjoy it”. “I couldn’t have gone any faster, it’s impossible”.
Before the Rio Games began, Ledecky was asked if breaking the eight-minute barrier was within her reach.
In tonight’s race, and in many performances since the London Olympics, Ledecky has shown she’s intent on fulfilling that potential.
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While Ledecky, at 19, is the youngest member of the USA team, Ervin is the oldest at 35.
